8 days lemosho route

Are you ready to climb Mount Kilimanjaro? A grand adventure lies just ahead of you, but first you’ll have the opportunity to decompress from your long-haul flight and enjoy a gentle introduction to the charms of Tanzania. A team member from Chalema Tanzania Safaris will meet you at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and bring you to the small town of Moshi. Spectacular mountain views are the order of the day here in Moshi, and you’ll get to appreciate the very best of them from your comfortable accommodations at the Parkview Inn. You’ll have the rest of the afternoon to enjoy at your leisure; tomorrow, your adventure begins.

Elevation: 2389m/7838ft to 2785m/9137ft

Altitude gained: 396m

Our Kilimanjaro trek begins bright and early this morning. With your bags packed, we’ll pile into the car and make the two-hour drive around the mountain to approach Kilimanjaro from the west. We’ll get checked in at the Londorossi Gate and pick up the trailhead, taking our first steps on the Lemosho Route. We’ll trek for about three or four hours, exploring pristine montane rainforest where monkeys chatter in the treetops and swallowtail butterflies drift lazily through the shadows of the forest canopy. Our first overnight destination on the Lemosho Route is Mti Mkubwa, or Big Tree Camp. This pleasant forest clearing is the perfect place to pitch our tents and enjoy the thrill of camping right here on Mount Kilimanjaro.

Elevation: 2785m/9137ft to 3504m/11,496ft

Altitude gained: 719m

After a hearty breakfast, we’ll break camp this morning and continue following the Lemosho Route to emerge from Kilimanjaro’s montane forest. As we leave Mti Mkubwa behind us, our path now winds its way through scenic moors and heaths to reach the Shira Plateau. It’s here that we’ll start to get a real sense of the tremendous geological forces that have shaped the mountain itself; you’ll find it hard not to stop and stare at the rocky gorges and deep valleys that characterize this part of the Lemosho Route. But we’ve still got some hiking to do—after about five or six hours in total, we’ll find ourselves making the short descent to Shira 1 Camp. On a clear day, we’ll get a fantastic look at Kibo: the tallest of Kilimanjaro’s three volcanic cones, and the highest point in all of Africa.

Elevation: 3504m/11,496ft to 3895m/12,779ft

Altitude gained: 391m

Our trek to reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro continues today as we cross the Shira Plateau, climbing higher in altitude and entering the mountain’s moorlands at approximately 4,000 feet in elevation. The Shira Plateau is one of the most fascinating geological territories on the mountain; it’s actually a volcanic caldera that is believed to have collapsed 500,000 years ago. We’ll traverse this ancient landscape for six or seven hours, trekking at a comfortable pace and bypassing Shira 2 Camp before arriving at our destination: Moir Hut. As its name suggests, there’s an old wooden hut here which was once used by climbers ascending the mountain. But the hut is no longer in service, and we’ll opt for the comfort of our own tents as we enjoy our first night above 4,000 meters in elevation.

Elevation: 3895m/12,779ft to 3986m/13,077ft

Altitude gained: 91m

More mesmerizing geological formations are waiting for us on today’s section of the Lemosho Route. Leaving Moir Hut behind, we’ll climb for about four hours this morning to reach an elevation of approximately 4,600 meters. It’s here that we’ll discover Kilimanjaro’s famous Lava Tower: a startling edifice of cooled lava rising to 300 feet above the ground. The Lava Tower makes for a fantastic photo opportunity, but it also serves another purpose: the time that we’ll spend here helps our bodies adjust to the rarefied air and high altitude. Moving on, we’ll descend through a forest of cactus-like dendrosenecio plants for about two more hours to reach Barranco Camp. The camp is situated in especially dramatic surroundings at the base of the steep Barranco Wall—but we’ll save that for tomorrow.

Elevation: 3986m/13,077ft to 4034m/13,235ft

Altitude gained: 48m

Today’s trek starts off with a bang as we tackle what’s arguably the biggest obstacle on our eight-day Lemosho Route itinerary. While the Barranco Wall is an entirely non-technical climb, its gradient is steep, and you can expect to use all four limbs to clamber your way to the top of this 900-foot formation. When we’ve conquered the wall, we’ll take a moment to catch our breath and congratulate ourselves before trekking further across a gorgeous landscape of ridges and valleys blanketed with scree, where overhanging glaciers add a touch of stark beauty to a world of rock. We’ll only be on our feet for about four or five hours today, so we’ll have plenty of time to rest at Karanga Camp and continue to adjust to the high altitude of Kilimanjaro.

Elevation: 4034m/13,235ft to 4662m/15,295ft

Altitude gained: 628m

After breakfast, we’ll set off for another three or four hours of adventuring on our Lemosho Route trek. Our path soon intersects with the Mweka Route, and we’ll be following this track to return from the mountain’s summit—but for now, we’ll continue climbing across a dramatic alpine desert to reach Barafu Camp. We’ll pitch our tents in a lunar landscape of rock and ice, with thick clouds gathering all around us. From camp, you may be able to catch a clear glimpse of Mawenzi and Kibo, two of Kilimanjaro’s volcanic summits. That’s where we’re headed early in the morning: our ultimate destination of Uhuru Peak is located on Kibo. For now, though, we’ll make sure to get lots of rest to prepare for our attempt on the summit.

Elevation: 4662m/15,295ft to 5895m/19,341ft

Altitude gained: 1233m

Descent to 3106m/10,190ft

Altitude lost: 2789m

This is the day you’ve been anticipating; our entire journey on the epic Lemosho Route itinerary culminates with our final push to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. We’ve got some serious ground to cover over the course of more than 13 hours, so we’ll get a very early start. As we climb through the alpine darkness, we’ll trek past multiple glaciers before arriving at the lookout known as Stella Point, where we’ll watch the sun rise over the plains of East Africa. Then it’s time to hike for another hour to arrive at Uhuru Peak on the volcanic cone of Kibo. This is the true summit of Kilimanjaro, situated at 5,895 meters above sea level, and reaching this point on your own two feet is sure to rank among the greatest accomplishments of your life. Later, we’ll follow the Mweka Route to descend for several hours, spending our last night on the mountain at Mweka Camp.

Elevation: 3106m/10,190ft to 1633m/5358ft

Altitude lost: 1473m

With the unforgettable summit of Kilimanjaro at our backs, you’d be forgiven for thinking that all of the thrills of the Lemosho Route are behind us. But one of the advantages of choosing this route is that you’re never forced to retrace your own steps, and each new bend in the path reveals new sights of surpassing beauty. We’ll trek for about three orfour hours today, reentering the montane rainforest that characterizes the mountain’s lower slopes and ultimately arriving at Mweka Gate. After collecting our hard-earned certificates of accomplishment from the staff at the gate, we’ll board our transportation to Arusha. Your accommodations tonight will be at the Arusha Planet Lodge.

You’re sure to wake up feeling refreshed in your comfortable bed at the Arusha Planet Lodge this morning. During the entirety of the Lemosho Route, we’ve trekked for more than 70 kilometers (42 miles) across some of Tanzania’s wildest landscapes, laying our eyes upon scenes of arresting beauty each and every day. Today, we’ll take you back to the Kilimanjaro International Airport in plenty of time for your outgoing flight. We hope you’ve had an unforgettable time on the Lemosho Route, and we thank you for choosing Chalema Tanzania Safaris to be your guide.